emissions of air pollutants in Germany
Germany: emissions of air pollutants was 2.46 million tonnes in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
2.46 million tonnes
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
28th
of 220 countries
All-time high
13.30 million tonnes
in 1987
All-time low
2.44 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Germany, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in Germany stood at 2.46 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Germany peaked at 13.30 million tonnes in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.44 million tonnes, in 2020.
That places Germany 28th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 273 years of available data.
emissions of air pollutants in Germany, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 3.38 million tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 3.38 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 3.38 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 3.39 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 3.39 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 3.40 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 3.40 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 3.40 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 3.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 3.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 3.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 3.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 3.42 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 3.42 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 3.42 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 3.42 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 3.43 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 3.43 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 3.43 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 3.43 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 3.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 3.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 3.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 3.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 3.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 3.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 3.46 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1795 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1796 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1798 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1802 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1803 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1804 | 3.48 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 3.48 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1806 | 3.48 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1807 | 3.50 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1808 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1809 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1810 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1811 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1812 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1813 | 3.47 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1814 | 3.46 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1815 | 3.47 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 3.51 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1817 | 3.52 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 3.52 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 3.52 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1820 | 3.52 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 3.55 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 3.58 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1823 | 3.61 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1824 | 3.64 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 3.68 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 3.71 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 3.74 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 3.76 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 3.79 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 3.82 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 3.84 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 3.85 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 3.91 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1834 | 3.93 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 3.96 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 4.01 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1837 | 4.05 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1838 | 4.10 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1839 | 4.14 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 4.20 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1841 | 4.23 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 4.27 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1843 | 4.29 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1844 | 4.32 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 4.37 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1846 | 4.39 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 4.42 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1848 | 4.43 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 4.46 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 4.49 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 4.55 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1852 | 4.59 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1853 | 4.60 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1854 | 4.61 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1855 | 4.60 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1856 | 4.62 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 4.65 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 4.69 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 4.70 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 4.73 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 4.79 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1862 | 4.83 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1863 | 4.86 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 4.91 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1865 | 4.96 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 4.93 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1867 | 5.00 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1868 | 5.08 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1869 | 5.12 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 5.08 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1871 | 5.22 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 5.34 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1873 | 5.41 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 5.20 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1875 | 5.40 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1876 | 5.38 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1877 | 5.31 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1878 | 5.31 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 5.37 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 5.51 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1881 | 5.50 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1882 | 5.57 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 5.58 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 5.54 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1885 | 5.47 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1886 | 5.41 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1887 | 5.45 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 5.60 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1889 | 5.70 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 5.72 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1891 | 5.85 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 5.72 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1893 | 5.76 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 5.85 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1895 | 5.92 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 6.06 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1897 | 6.17 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 6.20 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 6.31 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 6.48 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1901 | 6.37 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1902 | 6.25 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1903 | 6.50 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1904 | 6.60 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 6.71 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 6.91 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1907 | 7.47 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1908 | 7.43 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1909 | 7.36 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1910 | 7.37 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1911 | 7.48 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 7.91 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1913 | 8.30 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1914 | 7.47 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1915 | 7.09 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1916 | 8.01 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1917 | 8.46 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1918 | 8.51 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 7.00 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1920 | 7.81 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1921 | 8.02 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1922 | 7.76 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1923 | 4.85 million tonnes | -37.5% |
| 1924 | 6.74 million tonnes | +38.9% |
| 1925 | 6.71 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1926 | 6.31 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1927 | 7.19 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1928 | 7.35 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 7.77 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1930 | 6.60 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1931 | 5.66 million tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1932 | 5.19 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1933 | 5.41 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1934 | 5.97 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1935 | 6.57 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1936 | 6.98 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1937 | 7.65 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1938 | 7.89 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1939 | 8.20 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1940 | 8.36 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1941 | 8.55 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1942 | 8.57 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1943 | 8.68 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1944 | 8.00 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1945 | 2.79 million tonnes | -65.1% |
| 1946 | 3.60 million tonnes | +28.8% |
| 1947 | 4.23 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1948 | 5.10 million tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1949 | 5.84 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1950 | 6.94 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1951 | 7.35 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1952 | 7.40 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 7.40 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1954 | 7.47 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 7.89 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 8.25 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 8.36 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 8.18 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1959 | 8.25 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 8.98 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1961 | 9.13 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 9.60 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1963 | 10.11 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 10.44 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 10.52 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 10.39 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 10.13 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 10.63 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 11.40 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1970 | 12.02 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 11.94 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 11.85 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 11.72 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 11.45 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 11.37 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 11.34 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 11.50 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 12.00 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 12.54 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 12.85 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 12.27 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1982 | 12.15 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 11.89 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 12.40 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 12.76 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 13.07 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 13.30 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 13.23 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 12.85 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 13.29 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 11.01 million tonnes | -17.1% |
| 1992 | 9.49 million tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 8.59 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 7.55 million tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1995 | 7.18 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 6.61 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 6.37 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 5.86 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 5.44 million tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 5.10 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 4.90 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 4.60 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 4.27 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 4.06 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 3.83 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 3.80 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 3.76 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 3.74 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 3.20 million tonnes | -14.5% |
| 2010 | 3.51 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 3.43 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 3.18 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 3.14 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 2.97 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 3.07 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 2.95 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 2.96 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.84 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 2.74 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 2.44 million tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 2.58 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 2.46 million tonnes | -4.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 2.46 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 16.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Germany's 2.46 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 280,480 tonnes, 8.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -65.1% | 8.00 million tonnes | 2.79 million tonnes |
| 1924 | +38.9% | 4.85 million tonnes | 6.74 million tonnes |
| 1923 | -37.5% | 7.76 million tonnes | 4.85 million tonnes |
| 1946 | +28.8% | 2.79 million tonnes | 3.60 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 3.39 million tonnes | 3.38 million tonnes | 3.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3.42 million tonnes | 3.41 million tonnes | 3.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3.44 million tonnes | 3.44 million tonnes | 3.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 3.46 million tonnes | 3.45 million tonnes | 3.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 3.47 million tonnes | 3.46 million tonnes | 3.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 3.48 million tonnes | 3.47 million tonnes | 3.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 3.49 million tonnes | 3.46 million tonnes | 3.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3.66 million tonnes | 3.52 million tonnes | 3.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 3.96 million tonnes | 3.82 million tonnes | 4.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 4.34 million tonnes | 4.20 million tonnes | 4.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.61 million tonnes | 4.49 million tonnes | 4.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.92 million tonnes | 4.73 million tonnes | 5.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 5.30 million tonnes | 5.08 million tonnes | 5.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.53 million tonnes | 5.41 million tonnes | 5.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.96 million tonnes | 5.72 million tonnes | 6.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.81 million tonnes | 6.25 million tonnes | 7.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 7.76 million tonnes | 7.00 million tonnes | 8.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.05 million tonnes | 4.85 million tonnes | 8.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.61 million tonnes | 5.19 million tonnes | 8.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.37 million tonnes | 2.79 million tonnes | 8.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 7.75 million tonnes | 6.94 million tonnes | 8.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.13 million tonnes | 8.98 million tonnes | 11.40 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.77 million tonnes | 11.34 million tonnes | 12.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.68 million tonnes | 11.89 million tonnes | 13.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.14 million tonnes | 5.44 million tonnes | 13.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.13 million tonnes | 3.20 million tonnes | 5.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.08 million tonnes | 2.74 million tonnes | 3.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.49 million tonnes | 2.44 million tonnes | 2.58 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More climate change data for Germany
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.70 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 43,971 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,073 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,898 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 34.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,246 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 12,227 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 122.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 46.14 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Germany?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Germany was 2.46 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 13.30 million tonnes in 1987.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.44 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Germany ranks 28th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels such as oil, gas, wood, and coal. CO is a harmful gas that contributes to both outdoor and indoor air pollution.